Idle traders slam Bradford Council over parking charges

Idle car park, which is situated near The Green, used to be free to use - but Bradford Council introduced a charge of £1 an hour last week.

The authority said it had "many difficult decisions" to make as it teeters on the brink of bankruptcy - but a number of business owners in Idle have told the Telegraph & Argus of their frustration at the "nonsense" decision and fear it could "spell disaster" for the economic prosperity of the village.

The charges came into effect at the car park this week (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds)Jodie Walsh, owner of the Top Knot clothing shop on Bradford Road, said: "We're raging.

"Since the charges came into force this week, it's been noticeably quieter in the village - a lot of people are already turning away.

"It's not easy being a business owner - and this is the last thing we need.

"It's also the last thing our customers need - times are tough and they already pay enough money in Council tax.

"The Council shouldn't be using the people of Idle as cash cows - it should be looking at other, fairer ways of bringing in money."

Jodie Walsh, owner of Top Knot (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds) Jodie said she did not feel the Council had "properly listened" to concerns raised over the introduction of the parking charges.

"The communication has been poor," she added. 

"We don't think they really care."

Carissa Patten - who owns Idle Greengrocers and Patten Home Gifts, both on The Green - also told the T&A of her concerns.

She said: "I've  seen a 50 per cent drop in custom since the charges started.

"This decision by Bradford Council is having a negative effect already. 

Carissa Patten, owner of Idle Greengrocers and Patten Home Gifts (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds) "A lot of our customers are extremely unhappy about this - many are elderly and it's easier for them to drive into the village, but now they face these charges if they do decide to come in.

"We'd urge Bradford Council to rethink these ridiculous charges."

Mick Marshall, who owns Idle Greetings on The Green, said: "This decision has the potential to spell disaster for independently-owned businesses in Idle.

"Over the years, Idle has been on the way up with plenty of new shops opening - but now we're worried what the Council has done could drag us backwards."

Rachel Armitage, owner of Funky and Fresh Hair, has also voiced her concerns (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds)When Bradford Council announced it planned to introduce the charges earlier this year, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland - who campaigned against the proposals alongside fellow Liberal Democrat councillor, Alun Griffiths - said: "The village is already congested. 

"People will be moving out of the car park and into the streets - it could be traffic chaos.

"Business owners are worried - they don't want to lose customers.

"The car park only has about 25 spaces and what the Council would generate in income would be a minimal amount of money.

"They're not going to generate enough to make a difference to the big budget deficit they have. 

"This proposal is nonsense."

The T&A asked Bradford Council this week if it wanted to respond to the traders' concerns.

A Council spokesperson pointed to a previous statement, which said: "Nearly all Council-owned car parks across the district already have parking charges, particularly in our urban centres.

"Parking charges play an essential role in the careful management of our village, town and city centres where there is high demand for parking spaces.

"They can help encourage a healthy turnover of vehicles and shoppers to support local businesses.

"We understand the concern people may have on these and other proposals - however, given the financial situation at local authorities across the country, we're having to consider many difficult decisions.

"Free car parks bring an additional cost to the Council in business rates and no charges means this is essentially subsidised by taxpayers.

"Charges cover this cost and are also a source of income to help pay for the upkeep of our car parks."

A recent report by the union Unison, called Councils on the Brink, said Bradford Council was among the local authorities "teetering on the edge of financial disaster".

Earlier this year, the then-Tory Government agreed to provide "exceptional financial support" to Bradford Council - which would have otherwise faced effective bankruptcy.